Author Topic: Military Cross awarded, help required please  (Read 3030 times)

Offline Supersnap

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Military Cross awarded, help required please
« on: Monday 11 October 10 00:11 BST (UK) »
Hi,

My grandfather was in WW1 in the rifle brigade. He ended up at the rank of Major.

His name was Walter Richard Godfrey Chambers and was born in 1883 in Exeter, Devon. My father has his medal ribbons, one of which is the Military Cross. Unfortunately the medals are at the bottom of the ocean when a ship he was on got torpedo at some point. I never knew my grandfather he died in 1956 (before I was even thought of!). My father said that my grandfather never liked talking about how he got it. All he would say was that he lost a good friend at the battle of the Somme (we found out that Mark Glanville Chambers was his brother died at the Somme 1916).

My question is...how do i find out what it was awarded for and when? Ive looked the gazette and dont seem to find anything. And someone suggested the local newspaper from where he lived. Im struggling!

Can anyone help me please?


Many thanks

Offline mmm45

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Re: Military Cross awarded, help required please
« Reply #1 on: Monday 11 October 10 00:31 BST (UK) »
Do you have a Battalion in the RB he served in as a war diary should give an account..the Gazette will have acitation for the MC....just a nightmare to navigate!

Ady
Lowe(Lower Gornall-Castleford)
Blackburn (Castleford)
Sidwell(Ledsham)
Fairburn(Hartshead)
Wood(Liversedge)
Tallon (Whittington Lancs/Hartshead West Yorkshire)

Researching all Great War soldiers from the Spen Valley of West Yorkshire Especially lads from the Cleckheaton Company of 1/4th West Riding Regiment.

Offline Morganllan

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Re: Military Cross awarded, help required please
« Reply #2 on: Monday 11 October 10 02:10 BST (UK) »
Hello

His promotion to Major in the Army of India Reserve of Officers was in the London Gazette on 31st July 1931:

"To be Maj.
Walter Richard Godfrey Chambers, 4th June
• 1931, with seniority 3rd Nov. 1930."

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33740/pages/5028/page.pdf

Offline Morganllan

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Re: Military Cross awarded, help required please
« Reply #3 on: Monday 11 October 10 02:27 BST (UK) »


Offline Morganllan

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Re: Military Cross awarded, help required please
« Reply #4 on: Monday 11 October 10 02:39 BST (UK) »
Have you found a medal record for Mark Chambers?

there is one possible on NA site if Mark was also in the Rifles:

Medal card of Chambers, Mark
Corps                Regiment No   Rank
2nd Rifle Brigade    4593           Private
2nd Rifle Brigade    4593           Private
Date:    1914-1920
Catalogue reference:    WO 372/4

Offline Supersnap

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Re: Military Cross awarded, help required please
« Reply #5 on: Monday 11 October 10 08:48 BST (UK) »
Thanks morganllan,

Morganllan:  mmm45 sent me his medal card but thank you.

mmm45:  This is what i have (his other details are in my original post)
                Was in the 4/13th Frontier Force Rifles (Wildes)(late 57th Wilde's Rifles) during WW1 (he
                was in India for a time) and awarded the Military Cross (not sure why and where).     
                Obtained the rank of Major 3rd November 1930. Was a Police War Reserve Officer during
                WW2.


Any info relating to his Military cross or police would be really helpful.

Thanks for all your help guys.

Offline mmm45

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Re: Military Cross awarded, help required please
« Reply #6 on: Monday 11 October 10 11:58 BST (UK) »
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13448&SearchInit=4&SearchType=6&CATREF=wo389

MC details will be available here but not online.Can you post a photo of the ribbons hes proving hard to track down.Hes resignation in 1934 doesnt have MC after his name.

Ady
Lowe(Lower Gornall-Castleford)
Blackburn (Castleford)
Sidwell(Ledsham)
Fairburn(Hartshead)
Wood(Liversedge)
Tallon (Whittington Lancs/Hartshead West Yorkshire)

Researching all Great War soldiers from the Spen Valley of West Yorkshire Especially lads from the Cleckheaton Company of 1/4th West Riding Regiment.

Offline Supersnap

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Re: Military Cross awarded, help required please
« Reply #7 on: Monday 11 October 10 12:55 BST (UK) »
Thanks,

I'll ask my dad to scan his fathers medal ribbons, then i can post the scan on here


Many thanks

Offline Supersnap

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Re: Military Cross awarded, help required please
« Reply #8 on: Monday 11 October 10 15:18 BST (UK) »

Here are my grandfathers medal ribbons. Not sure what some of them are, but my dad will email me with what they are.

Curious of how he was awarded the main one.



Thanks for any help.